Page 155 - April 2017

La Primera Del Ano Derby-G3
START SOMETHIN BAD
by Tracy Gantz
Multiple Champion trainer Paul Jones always likes to win for his clients. He especially enjoyed the La Primera Del Ano
Derby-G3 at Los Alamitos on April 1, though, because Start Something Bad’s victory came for Jeff and Kim Pitcher, who manage his farm in Temecula, California, and Jeff Aldstadt, one of Jones’ longtime owners.
In this year’s final, Start Somethin Bad broke second from the 5-gate, maintained her position for jockey Ramon Sanchez and caught leader Tough To Figure at the wire to finish a nose in front. Start Somethin Bad completed the 400 yards in :19.823. With the $92,568 winner’s share of the $220,400 purse, the gray filly has cumulative earnings of $125,193.
The owners, and many of their friends, stood outside the winner’s circle sweating out the photo finish. When Start Somethin Bad’s number went up, so did a giant cheer, led by Jeff Aldstadt.
“I am ecstatic right now,” said Aldstadt. “This is just so much fun, and to share it with all my friends and family, that’s what makes it special. I thought we got there, but we had to wait it out. The result went our way. It added to the thrill. We had about 100 people here and next time we’ll get 200 people here. That’s how much fun we have when this filly runs!”
Start Somethin Bad broke her maiden in her third
start last year and ended the season with a second in the Los Alamitos $2 Million Juvenile and was a finalist
in the PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity-G2.
“I’m just really tickled for
Jeff and Kim Pitcher,” Jones
stated. “They raised this filly,
and they’ve been a big part
of my operation for many
years. They’ve raised a lot of horses for me. Jeff is in charge of breaking all my two year olds. They’ve been a big part of a lot of nice horses like Foose and Favorite Cartel. It’s really nice to see them have one that they own step up and win a big race.”
“After the PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity, the next morning she had a 104 degree temperature,” said Jeff Pitcher, “so we felt that maybe she was a little sick going into the race. It is what it is, but we’re happy to have had her 100 percent tonight.”
The Pitchers are particularly fond of Start Somethin Bad because of her roots. They
bred her in California from lightly raced Letsgetitstarted. She has produced 100% money
earners from three starters. Start Somethin Bad is her first stakes winner and top earner.
“Letsgetitstarted had issues of soundness and never did run very good,” said Jeff Pitcher. He never considered selling the mare, saying, “She’s family to me.”
Dr. Ed Allred’s homebred Tough To Figure (Walk Thru Fire-Big Jan) finished second for jockey Gary Boag and
trainer Scott Willoughby. Favored Staggering Stride (Mr Jess Perry-Dinastia Toll BRZ) ran third with Cesar DeAlba in the irons. Chris O’Dell trains her for Abigail Kawananakoa. Staggering Stride finished third in the 2016 Los Alamitos $2 Million Juvenile.
Rounding out the field were Hootin For Hotlips (Fantastic Corona Jr-Hot Lips Perry), Red And Ready (Walk Thru Fire-Coronas Rouge), Jess Mas (One Sweet Jess-Corona Mas Fina), Jess Pretending (One Sweet Jess-Miss Kittys Bar Bet), Sweet Aguila (One Sweet Jess- First Magical Dash) finished in a dead-heat for eighth with Smell Perfume (Foose-Running Bac) and Janes Cartel (Corona Cartel-Unusual Jane TB) followed.
Los Alamitos Race Course $220,400 • 400 yards :19.823 • si 90
Corona Cartel
Pappasito
Strawberry Silk
START SOMETHIN BAD, ’14-f.
Splash Bac
Letsgetitstarted
Shirleys Signature
Start Somethin Bad (#5) and Ramon Sanchez win the $220,400 La Primera Del Ano Derby-G3
SPEEDHORSE, April 2017 153
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